My opponent has stated that the kamikazes will make him "more careful", and indeed all Allied shipping has left the Manado - Ternate area. Not a bad result for the sacrifice of a mere 24 Oscars with noob pilots ...
On the downside, he has now taken Hue in Indochina and will likely take Vinh next turn.
Tokyo is down to 175k. I realised that I have really messed up with the Nakajima Ha-45 and have drastically increased future production of this engine. This is on top of providing sufficient to build all the forts outside the Home Islands.
A quiet turn. The remnants of the Thai army were finally disposed of near Bangkok and Corsairs swept Soerabaja where the house Jacks shot down 4 at cost of 7 of their own.
The piccie shows 51 x Ki-36 Idas training up as kamikazes in Mindanao. Fearsome ...
I think Nemo was using Kami`s in the thousands in one of his late war AAR`s ( maybe a Downfall PBEM ) ??
Not saying that`s A Good Thing, but sometimes The End Game arrives when it seems far away....
ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft
I have converted some more navy air groups to kamikaze. A6M2 Zeros and B6N1 Jills, which are plentiful. These are some of the many units which have to withdraw by 10 July 1944, and which were training up at various locations. Perhaps using noobs on suicide missions will be more productive than waiting for them to train up. At the very least it will drain the huge pilot replacements pools a bit. These along with Naval Shipyards are my only real industrial worries.
None of my core non-withdrawing air groups will be frittered away in this manner. These are to be used in the Decisive Battle (TM) and only then.
My opponent's reaction to the advent of the kamikaze war will be interesting.
“History would be a wonderful thing – if it were only true.”
I can't just convert my whole air force, even if I wanted to. You get to do one group per day at most, and lots of groups have the button greyed out for unknown reasons.
Still, I think on the whole that achieving early Kamikaze activation ought to be considered a force multiplier. Perhaps the "Chumphon Gambit" should be added to the game canon?
Around 250 Sonias are plotted to bomb Changteh next turn. This is a part of the core IJA level bomber force (non-withdrawing size 27 units). They can fool around with Sonias in China until I have enough Peggies or Patsies to go around, which will be a while.
I was really expecting him to do things in China after Rangoon fell, but there has been absolutely nothing.
Quite a few engagements today. For once here is the full combat report.
RO-33 survived and is heading to Batavia for emergency repairs.
It looks like he is going to land at Denpasar next.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 01, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 75,99, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Oboro
DD Akebono, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 2
DD Kisaragi
Allied Ships
DD Kidd, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD LaVallette
DD Murray
DD Nicholas, Shell hits 1
DD O'Bannon
DD Philip
DD John Rodgers, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Sigsbee
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 50% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
DD Sigsbee engages DD Mutsuki at 12,000 yards
DD John Rodgers engages DD Mutsuki at 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD John Rodgers at 12,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD O'Bannon at 12,000 yards
DD O'Bannon engages DD Amagiri at 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Kidd at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Sigsbee engages DD Amagiri at 6,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD John Rodgers at 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD O'Bannon at 6,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD O'Bannon at 6,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Nicholas at 6,000 yards
DD LaVallette engages DD Yugiri at 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Kidd at 6,000 yards
DD Kisaragi engages DD Kidd at 6,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD LaVallette at 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Sigsbee at 6,000 yards
DD Kisaragi engages DD O'Bannon at 6,000 yards
DD Nicholas engages DD Mutsuki at 6,000 yards
DD Murray engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
DD Amagiri sunk by DD LaVallette at 6,000 yards
DD Kidd engages DD Yugiri at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD John Rodgers engages DD Akebono at 7,000 yards
DD Philip engages DD Akebono at 7,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD O'Bannon at 7,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Nicholas at 7,000 yards
DD Kidd engages DD Yugiri at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Sigsbee at 11,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Nicholas at 11,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Philip at 11,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Sigsbee at 11,000 yards
DD LaVallette engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Murray at 11,000 yards
DD LaVallette engages DD Akebono at 11,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Kidd at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Sigsbee engages DD Akebono at 13,000 yards
DD John Rodgers engages DD Mutsuki at 13,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Philip at 13,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD O'Bannon at 13,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Nicholas at 13,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Murray at 13,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD LaVallette at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Watampone at 66,105
Japanese Ships
SS RO-33, hits 5
Allied Ships
DD Piet Hein
DE Arrow
DD Kortenaer
SS RO-33 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Piet Hein
RO-33 bottoming out ....
DD Piet Hein fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kortenaer attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Watampone at 66,105
Japanese Ships
SS RO-39, hits 10
Allied Ships
DD Fanning
CA Quincy
CL Trenton
CL Perth
AP Gen. J.R.Brooke
xAP Rangitata
xAP Margaret Fuller
xAP Adoniram Judson
xAP Cape Alava
xAP Santa Maria
xAK William S. Clark
xAK William L. Garrison
xAK R. C. Brennan
DD Schley
DD Chew
DD Selfridge
SS RO-39 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Fanning
RO-39 bottoming out ....
DD Schley fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Chew fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Selfridge attacking submerged sub ....
DD Selfridge fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Selfridge fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 36
G3M2 Nell x 6
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 10 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 6 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
xAP Leslie M. Shaw
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
17 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 7000 feet *
CAP engaged:
VMF-113 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 22000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
318th FG/333rd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Manado at 75,99
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 21
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 16
Allied Ships
DD Case
DD Cushing
DD Reid
DD Shaw
DD Smith
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-45 KAIb Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick sweeping at 1000 feet
CAP engaged:
VF-17 with F4U-1 Corsair (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Guides Cavalry Regiment, at 66,66 , near Tourane
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 158
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
30 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
42 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
21 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
36 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Guides Cavalry Regiment, at 66,66 , near Tourane
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 60
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Davao at 79,91
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 19
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16
CAP engaged:
30th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 27000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
34th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (5 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
63rd Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 27000
Raid is overhead
6 planes vectored on to bombers
77th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
94th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (5 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
248th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 59 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9
G3M2 Nell x 3
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 8
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
CAP engaged:
VMF-113 with F4U-1 Corsair (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 22000
Raid is overhead
318th FG/333rd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manado at 75,99
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 11
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 6
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
DD Trathen
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-45 KAIb Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
CAP engaged:
VF-17 with F4U-1 Corsair (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Watampone at 66,105
SS RO-33 is sighted by escort
RO-33 bottoming out ....
DD McKee fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hoel fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hoel attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hoel cannot establish contact with SS RO-33
DD Hoel fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hoel fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Watampone at 66,105
Japanese Ships
SS RO-33, hits 9, heavy damage
Allied Ships
xAP Frances E. Willard, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Simoon
xAP Trade Wind, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
xAP Simoon is sighted by SS RO-33
SS RO-33 cannot submerge, must engage on the surface
xAP Frances E. Willard firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Simoon firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Trade Wind firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Frances E. Willard firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Simoon firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Trade Wind firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Frances E. Willard firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Simoon firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Trade Wind firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Frances E. Willard firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Simoon firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Trade Wind firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Frances E. Willard firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Simoon firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Trade Wind firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Frances E. Willard firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Simoon firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Trade Wind firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Frances E. Willard firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Simoon firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Trade Wind firing on surfaced sub ....
Contact with submarine is lost
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
23 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
10 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
The Sonias definitely can get a lot of hits. The issue is that the bombs are so tiny that the damage is much lower than with other ordnance. So you're probably doing fairly well with that many, but if you had 1/4 as many 2E you'd do about the same and also be able to engage 3 other targets with the rest of the bombers.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
